The first Global Challenge (for Counter-Strike 1.6) will take place in sunny Los Angeles with sixteen teams playing for a total prize purse of 50.000$.

It is not the first time Extreme Masters visit Los Angeles. Last year ESL held an Extreme Masters event in Los Angeles at the E for All expo. This year, they repeat what took place last year, as they have arranged a Global Challenge at the E for All expo. The city to house this Global Challenge is Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the Western United States, as well as the second largest city in United States. The city has been nicknamed The City of Angels and is rated as an alpha world city (an important node point in the global economic system). The city has an estimated population of 3.8 million inhabitants. The well-known city, with attractions such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Walk of Fame and much more will be invaded by games from around the world this coming weekend.

The Global Challenge will be held inside the E for All expo, taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, located at the intersection of the Santa Monica and Harbor Freeways.  The gamers are however not here (at least not at first hand) to enjoy the sun and the many attractions, but here to fight for the 50.000$ and spots for continents at the Extreme Masters III Global Finals.

The tournament will set off in a group stage, consisting of four groups of four teams. Top two in each group will advance to the playoffs, being played in a double elimination bracket, and playing best of one map. The European elite will be put up against the best of North America with a mix of Latin Americans. Can the Americans defend their own soil or are the Europeans and the Latin Americans too strong for them to cope with? We will all be a lot wiser this Sunday.

Prize distribution

1. $25.000 + Continent spot at Global Finals
2. $10.000 + Continent spot at Global Finals
3. $6.000
4. $4.000
5. $2.500
6. $2.500

Schedule

Group stage - Friday
Playoffs - Saturday & Sunday

Time zone

Copenhagen/Berlin/Amsterdam/Stockholm - GMT +1 hour
Los Angeles - GMT -7 hours
(9 hours difference)

First matches start at 10:30 local time - 19:30 CET

HLTV.org will be in Los Angeles following the Global Challenge up close. We will be providing you with our unique coverage, meaning Global Challenge in Los Angeles will absolutely be worth watching. Get your HLTV IP’s, results, demos, standings, galleries, livebots and a lot more right here on HLTV.org.

XLBet is also in Los Angeles and has already now opened for the bets on the group stage matches.

Make sure to tune in on our coverage section already now and do not tune out until the event ends this Sunday. Global Challenge Los Angeles, up close, right here on HLTV.org